John Kasich: Changing stance on guns draws fire - including from his No. 2.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in White Plains Sunday, demanding action to end gun violence in the wake of another mass shooting in Florida. Feb. 18, 2018
Wochit

FILE – In this April 4, 2017, file photo, Ohio Gov. John Kasich delivers his State of the State address at the Sandusky State Theatre in Sandusky, Ohio. Governors in states that expanded Medicaid are wary of a bill revealed Thursday, June 22, by Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate. The expansion of the state-federal program has allowed 11 million lower-income Americans to gain health coverage. Among the Republicans voicing concern are Kasich and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)(Photo: Ron Schwane, AP)

The National Rifle Association-endorsed Republican called on President Donald Trump to implement "commonsense gun laws," such as banning bump stocks that can be used to make a semi-automatic weapon function like an automatic one, Kasich told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union."

Doug Deeken, director of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, slammed Kasich for what he sees as a "naked political play" to challenge Trump in 2020.

"It didn't work in 2016; I don't think it will work now," Deeken said.

If all the sudden you couldn't buy an AR-15, what would you lose? Would you feel your second amendment rights would be eroded? These are the things that have to be looked at and action has to happen. pic.twitter.com/CefKNaMKNE

"Would you feel as though your Second Amendment rights would be eroded because you couldn't buy a Goddarn AR-15?" Kasich said. "These are the things that have to be looked at. And action has to happen before–and, look, you're never going to fix all of this, but commonsense gun laws make sense."

But in Ohio, Kasich has signed more than a dozen pieces of GOP-passed legislation in Ohio to ease access to guns. He was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in his 2014 reelection bid. (The NRA picked Democrat Ted Strickland in 2010 when the incumbent from Appalachia had a strong record on gun access.)

"John Kasich supports the Second Amendment and has signed multiple bills to protect gun rights. As a pragmatic conservative Governor Kasich also recognizes the need for common-sense solutions to our nation’s problems," the site reads.

The removal of the section from the website drew the scorn of Kasich's own Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. Taylor, who is running in the GOP primary to succeed Kasich as governor, has worked to distance herself from Kasich.

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"All too often in the aftermath of these tragic events, there is knee-jerk reaction to attack the Second Amendment rights of our citizens rather than to address the root causes, which often center around mental illness," Taylor said in the statement issued Monday. "Restricting the rights of law-abiding Ohioans to legally purchase a gun does not do that. Neither does removing your prior support for pro-2nd Amendment legislation from a website."

That bill has tempered enthusiasm pro-gun control groups have had about Kasich's call for gun laws.

"I'd like to hear if he had it to do over again, he'd not have signed that bill into law," said Rev. Kristine Eggert, executive director of Ohio-based God Before Guns.

Kasich hasn't won over gun control advocates yet. Many advocates told The Enquirer they're encouraged by his comments but want to see more.

Toby Hoover, founder of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, doesn't want to see Kasich sign any more bills expanding where you can carry guns, such as the one he signed last year allowing guns in universities and daycares.

"I'm delighted he's going in that direction," said Hoover said. "I'm also concerned he's not going to take a strong stance at the Statehouse. They keep weakening the gun laws."

Kasich needs to push for background checks on gun purchases and be active in pushing for an assault weapons ban, Eggert said.

"It's a good first step," she said of the governor's comments on CNN.

In Congress, Kasich voted for a 1994 ban on assault weapons but he opposed the Brady Bill, which required federal background checks on gun owners.

"The @NRA endorsed @JohnKasich & gave him an "A" rating in 2014. #Kasich4Us," Kasich proclaimed in a January 2016 tweet.

Kasich, in the interview on CNN, agreed with the critics that Congress has ignored the gun control issue.

"They're absolutely right when they say that politicians have not been responding to any of this," Kasich said. "You take a look at the Congress, and I think the Congress is totally dysfunctional."

Kasich's political adviser, John Weaver, tweeted Sunday that Kasich's views on guns had "evolved" after the increase in school shootings.

.@JohnKasich is a supporter of the 2nd Amendment, but like many Americans - if not most - his views have evolved with the dramatic increase in school shootings & mass killings. We want our leaders to be unafraid to observe, listen & learn. We urge the "president" to follow suit.

Jim Irvine, president of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said he would prefer that politicians like Kasich focus on new solutions, such as training teachers how to use firearms in schools.

"To us, the thing that is not common sense is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results," said Irvine, whose group offers the classes. Kasich has not attended or promoted them. "We are going to implement things that work rather than offer political soundbites."

Kasich on CNN called on Trump to lead the charge on background checks.

"There should be no ability to do a casual sale without somebody having to find out who they're selling the gun to and what is involved," Kasich said.

During the CNN interview, Kasich said he doubted Congress would make any meaningful changes on guns.

"(D)o I think they can do anything on guns? I hope they prove me wrong, and they can, because I have no confidence in them,” he said.